Podcasts by All Grown Up Now

Episode 99: The Walk from 2023-08-22T01:02:12

It's amazing when a remark from years ago is suddenly remembered, and now makes more sense.

Episode 98: A dream as a git to the future, part 2 from 2023-06-26T16:47:33

In the first podcast on a dream as a gift to the future, I began talking about this idea. In my life, it has played out again recently.

Episode 97: Stalked by Betsey Johnson from 2022-12-15T00:28:50

A short amusing holiday story involving celebrity sightings.

Episode 96: Making Things from 2022-08-27T18:54:27

And yes indeed, this is the point--craft as my salvation.

Episode 95: The End of the World from 2022-07-13T20:51:49

An incident from my childhood spurred a seemingly irrational fear, that has come back to haunt me these days.

Special Report: Who's Wilbur? from 2022-06-12T16:42:27

Wilbur Dean King didn't get much play in previous episodes, but he still looms as an important figure in my childhood.  Here is his story.

Episode 93: No Regrets, Just Gratitude from 2022-05-15T20:44:25

A recent visit to Oklahoma City cemented in my mind, that the big choices I’ve made in my life were good ones.

Special Report: At My Peril from 2022-03-06T22:00:34

A snarky comment on my Instagram feed compels me to clear the air. This may ruffle some feathers but needs to be said.

Episode 92: Lorie's Gift from 2022-01-22T17:07:57

Gifts come in many forms.  My cousin Lorie, who passed in late November, gave me a priceless gift. This is her story.

Episode 91: The Ripple Effect from 2021-12-13T20:56:43

This long-form episode allows me to pay hommage to a dear departed friend, Norma Tringali. It also allows me to share one of the most important lessons I learned from her.

Episode 90: Telephone Etiquette from 2021-08-14T20:31:22

Just because someone answers, doesn't mean they can talk!

Episode 89: Spheres of Influence from 2021-05-31T17:36:47

It's interesting to observe the effects of people when they are the center of a sphere of influence.

Episode 88: The Bishop's Pockets from 2021-05-02T23:22:02

In this episode our hero ponders if one could be charged as an accessory to a crime, for making accessories?

Episode 87: Daisy the Wonder Dog! from 2021-04-06T16:44:56

The daffodils in bloom this spring remind me of Daisy.  I've only had one dog, which raised the bar so high for fabulous dogs, I've never wanted another. Her name was Daisy, and she was  the lov...

Episode 86: Becoming a Hip Hop Star from 2021-02-21T05:00

This is the story of my small burst of stardom as a hip hop video extra.

Episode 85: The Valentine's Day Jinx from 2021-02-07T18:53

This is a reprise of an earlier podcast, after many requests. So enjoy!

One time can jinx a day for years.
This is a reprise of an earlier podcast, after many requests. So enjoy!

Episode 84: The Go-See from 2021-01-12T22:57:24

  A short funny story to distract us all from what's going on in the news.

Episode 83: Thoughts on the holidays from 2020-12-13T19:40:23

But is it? A holiday wish for all of my listeners.

Episode 82: The White Cow from 2020-10-15T04:00

This is a short story of a college writing assignment as an epiphany.

Episode 81: A Dream as a Gift to the Future from 2020-09-26T17:52:34

Sometimes a gift is more than a gift, and a dream can travel into the future.

Summer Re-run: Jet Set, Starring Patty from 2020-08-30T04:00

There are many strong women who populate my life. One of them is a gal named Patty.  Here's her story!

Special Report: Don't Ask! from 2020-07-31T04:00

In this Special Report, I tell you all, and remind myself, that when turbulent times are upon us, to NOT ask--"what else can happen?" Because you'll find out. 

Episode 80: The Week That Was, 1982 from 2020-07-18T04:00

This is a tale of one person's choice of how to deal with the question of sexual harassment in order to advance a career.

Special Report: Wear the Mask from 2020-07-03T00:51:40

The question of the mask--why is it a question? Discuss.

Episode 79: Death of a Friendship from 2020-06-11T04:00

I don't give up on friendships easily, but sometimes it's necessary. This is the story of Gretchen (not her real name), and the history of a friendship.

Episode 78: Recognition in the Big City from 2020-05-28T16:00

This was a heartwarming moment from my early days in New York--it made me not feel so alone or anonymous.

Episode 77: Stalked by Betsey Johnson from 2020-05-14T16:00

This is a short tale of my one and only encounter with a fashion icon.

To all my listeners, please stay in and stay safe!

Special Report: From the lockdown from 2020-05-05T21:40:40

My way of trying to make sense of crazy times.

Episode 76: The Sunday Afternoon Lecture from 2020-04-23T04:00

This is a short story about a humorous thing that happened at a Sunday lecture.

Episode 75: Alliteration from 2020-04-09T04:00

A short podcast because everyone needs a good laugh in these strange times.

Episode 74: A Story about Andrew from 2020-03-26T04:00

Hangry is a word used to describe someone who is hungry and irritable. Andrew does hangry in the most charming way!

Episode 73: An Answered Prayer from 2020-03-05T05:00

This episode tells of an epiphany I had in Paris in 1995, that influenced the direction of my work for years to come.

Episode 72: Gwenda from 2020-02-06T05:00

This is a sad story of a young woman from my Kansas years.

Episode 71: My Athletic Ability from 2020-01-23T05:00

This is a little reflection on my particular athletic ability, discovered at Gay Boy Summer Camp.

Episode 70: The Intern from 2020-01-06T05:00

When I talk to my students at FIT, I refer to Shelley as the Gold Standard, as far as interns go.  Here's her story.

Episode 69: A Holiday Greeting from 2019-12-20T05:00

This is a short little podcast with a holiday message!

Episode 68: Daisy the Wonder Dog! from 2019-11-24T05:00

I've only had one dog, which raised the bar so high for fabulous dogs, I've never wanted another. Her name was Daisy, and she was  the love of my life.

Episode 67: Hommage to a powerful woman from 2019-11-07T05:00

This is an hommage to another of the powerful women who have influenced my life and career.  Simmin (pronounced "Simone") Sethna taught me French Couture Patternmaking, as well as survival skill...

Episode 66: Boys' Shorts 6 from 2019-10-24T04:00

Boys' Shorts 6 is about inspection stickers, motorcycle cops, and checkbooks.

Episode 65: The Journey of the Orchid Brooch from 2019-10-03T04:00

Sometimes we don't quite know in the moment, what a particular thing will mean over time.  This story, of a piece of jewelry I made early in my career, illustrates one instance in my life, where...

Episode 64: All the Retail Ladies! from 2019-09-26T04:00

In my time in retail, I encountered a number of formidable women--individuals who had style, class, humor, and power. This podcast is an hommage to some of them.

Episode 63: How do you define Success? from 2019-09-12T04:00

Success is different things to different people.  There are the markers of success--fame, money, exposure in the media--but who defines it?  And why not define it for oneself?

Episode 62: The Sunburn from 2019-08-29T04:00

We learn the hilarious circumstances whereby Ken gets his first sunburn in Oklahoma City in 1981!

Episode 61: Flowers From Elton from 2019-08-15T04:00

In this episode, we hear of the time when Sir Elton sent flowers to Ken's studio-warming party in 1989.  The effect of this gesture was to finally convince Miss Ann that her son had actually "ma...

Episode 60: Boys' Shorts 5 from 2019-08-01T04:00

In this short episode, learn about how Ken ruined a career in fast food.  Also, mud wrestling!

Episode 59: Reflections on choice from 2019-07-18T04:00

This is a musing on choices--choices that broaden one's horizons as well as ones that narrow them, illustrated by observing Miss Ann's choices growing up.

Episode 58: Boys' Shorts 4 from 2019-07-04T04:00

In Boys' Shorts 4, learn about caged birds and bad luck, and how 1,399 gay men can create a microclimate!

Episode 57: The Valentine's Day Stories from 2019-06-20T04:00

Hear about Ken's personal Valentine's Day Jinx, and how it eventually broke.

Episode 56: Misadventures in Window Display from 2019-06-06T04:00

Ken quite his job at Macy's, trading down to work for a store in San Francisco called The Emporium. This podcast recounts some of his misadventures there.

Episode 55: The Chicago Stories from 2019-05-23T04:00

I find that there are places that seem to agree with me, and some that don't.  Chicago and the surrounding suburbs--don't.  This is not a diss of Chicago, it's just--me. Redacted for your listen...

Episode 54: Pearl August from 2019-05-09T04:00

Pearl August was one of the strong women I met and loved in my early New York days.  This is her story.

Episode 53: The world is round! from 2019-04-25T06:00

The story of Carmel.
We met Carmel in the earlier episodes of the podcast.  Carmel was Ken's Crazy Boss at Macy's in California in the early 1980's.  Here we get the rest of the story. Bonus: T...

Episode 52: Coming Out from 2019-04-11T04:00

In everyone's life, there are decisions that impact on all else that comes after.  For this episode, Ken talks about the decision that has impacted the rest of his life-- his coming out.

Episode 51: Boys' Shorts 3 from 2019-03-28T04:00

Boys' Shirts 3 is two stories:  The Qualities of Silence, and Beards and Veils. You will learn that silence sounds different depending on context, and also--why men do...

Episode 50: Love Letter to Darrell from 2019-03-14T04:00

Ken regards Darrell as the Gold Standard for Stand-up men. They dated in the early 1980's in Oklahoma City, and this is their story!

Episode 49: A short tale of authenticity from 2019-02-28T05:00

This is a short tale of how decisions one makes can impact others. Authenticity is something I've chosen, and every now and then, I get confirmation that I've made the right choice.

Episode 48: Jet Set from 2019-02-14T05:00

One of my New York stories:  Patty is one of the many strong women who populate my life.  Stylish, intelligent, successful--she is what Barbie wanted to be when she grew up! With cameo appearanc...

Episode 47: One Balmy Manhattan Evening from 2019-01-31T05:00

Learn about the adventures of Ken, Pearl, Elka, and the black-sock-fetishists!

Episode 46: Pink Tarantula from 2019-01-17T05:00

This episode chronicles one day in the late 1990's in San Francisco. This was the day that Ken knew that San Francisco had reached a tipping point. The central character is Carmel, the Mayor of ...

Episode 45: Love Letter to Susan from 2019-01-03T05:00

Susan Weiss, and her husband George, were Ken's surrogate parents when he moved to San Francisco in 1981.  They were a glamorous couple who ran a famous jazz club called the Blackhawk in the Ten...

Episode 44: The Stolen Wallet from 2018-12-20T05:00

This episode details how Miss Ann lost a very valuable piece of her history after her wallet was stolen. in the process, Ken gets mashed on by a saggy stripper.

Episode 43: Boys' Shorts 2 from 2018-12-06T05:00

Two brief stories:  Anna-Nicole Smith and the Mustard Jar, and Stuart's Gay Card.

Episode 42: Mrs. Freeman from 2018-11-22T05:00

This is the extended story of Mrs. Freeman, Ken's first landlady and Guardian Angel.  You get to hear the history, as well as an update from New York!

Episode 41: My number's not up yet from 2018-11-11T19:00:27

This episode is a story of how Ken and his family "dodged a bullet", and not merely metaphorically.

Episode 40: Fortuny! from 2018-10-25T04:00

This episode is about Ken's love affair with Fortuny, and how that rare fabric found him his husband!

Episode 39: The Three Month Rule from 2018-10-11T04:00

The Three Month Rule is Ken's way of making sure that he doesn't do anything stupid in regards to romance.  Have a listen and see how it works!

Episode 38: Boys' Shorts #1 from 2018-09-27T12:00

In Boys' Shorts, you get a couple of short stories.  The first is on the importance of adjectives, the second is a tale of Ken's one-and-only "walk of shame"!

Episode 37: The Driving Lessons from 2018-09-13T04:00

This is an extended version of the story of Ken's teenage driving school. He only had one student, but she passed her driving exam!

Episode 36: Hate Mail from 2018-09-06T13:24:52

In this episode, we hear about the one piece of hate mail that Ken ever received, from the losers at a crazy evangelical "church".  It gives a window onto that it looked like, and how it proved ...

Episode 35: The Mermaid Dress from 2018-08-23T04:00

This is a tale of a fashion model and a high-fashion gown, leavened with a bit of crazy! 

Episode 34: Comets Make People Crazy! from 2018-08-09T04:00

In this episode, we hear a couple of amusing tales about how the Howard Street studio in San Francisco attracted crazy people!

Episode 33: Eulogy for a Pair of Shoes from 2018-07-26T04:00

In this episode, we hear about Ken's first pair of expensive shoes, which he paid a week's salary for in 1980. Further, we get to see just what these shoes represented.

Episode 32: Tales of a Checkered Past--First Crush from 2018-07-26T04:00

In this short story, we hear of a first crush, between an awkward teenage boy (Ken) and the Object Of His Affection, a motorcycle-riding country boy.

Episode 31: Tales of a Checkered Past---The Blind Dates from 2018-07-12T04:00

Blind dates can be a good ting, or a recipe for disaster.  For Ken, they have been disaster in the past.  We get to hear of three of Ken's funnier blind date stories!

My First Grown-up Jewelry! from 2018-06-28T04:00

High-school-aged Ken receives his first piece of real grown-up jewelry, and a life lesson.

Episode 29: The Epilogue from 2018-06-14T04:00

Now that the story has ended, the people involved just didn't disappear--their stories continued. This is what happened to them. 

Episode 28: The most normal thing in the world. from 2018-06-07T04:00

All Mark ever wanted was the most normal things in the world--good friends, satisfying work, happiness.  We start the episode with just that--a dinner party where Mark, Ken, and two other of Mar...

Episode 27: Gotta keep your Gay Card updated! from 2018-05-31T04:00

In this episode, Mark and Ken start out to update Mark's Gay Card, which is seriously in arrears, by attending the director's cut of David Bowie in The Man Who Fell To Earth.  This expe...

Episode 26: Ace the Gumshoe, and a Lawyer named Pizzaface! from 2018-05-24T04:00

In this episode, Mark and Ken get surprised by a lawsuit after the commando raid.  This is where Ken remembers his experience from his youth--crazy people are unpredictable.  You can't predict w...

Episode 25: When Going Commando doesn't mean missing your underwear! from 2018-05-17T04:00

In this episode, Mark finds an apartment, and starts getting harassed in person by Victor. Ken writes the petition, which Mark argues for himself in court, winning a restraining order with condi...

The Boy Who Fell To Earth from 2018-05-10T04:00

In this episode, Ken begins by filling us in on the five-year gap between Act 2 and Act 3.  Once the two land in San Francisco, the journey out of this domestic violence situation begins.  With ...

Act 3: The Caper Begins! from 2018-05-03T04:00

In the beginning of Act 3, Ken gets a call from Mark in March of 1995--five years after they last spoke.  In this episode, Ken goes down to Los Angeles to kidnap Mark and bring him back to San F...

Episode 22: Divorce of the decade, part 2- Whatever you do, don't mess with her hair! from 2018-04-26T04:00

In this episode the family makes the move to Oklahoma City, and descends into a vortex of domestic violence.  There were bright spots, though-Ken has his first boy crush, and has a life-changing...

Episode 21: Divorce of the Decade, part 1-The Ballad of Miss Ann from 2018-04-19T04:00

When Mark admits to Ken over the phone that he is getting beaten regularly, Ken expounds on the evils of domestic violence.

As an example, in this episode and the next, Ken will tell Mark...

Stand by your Man, 1977-style from 2018-04-12T04:00

In therapy, Ken looks at the similarities of Mark to Miss Ann.  They look at her bad decisions,  depression, and the used-car salesman who boondoggled her out of the college money.  As amusement...

Who's Wilbur? The story of my father from 2018-04-05T04:00

He sat on the edge of my bed, and I asked him if he had died the day before.  He said that yes, he did, but wanted to come back to tell me everything would be OK.  This is his story.

Springtime for the Fancy Boy from 2018-03-29T14:23:51

After Miss Ann dies, Ken sees how her family behaves, which helps him to understand why she was who she was.  We also hear from Susan, Ken's own "Auntie Mame", and hear some of her philosophy on...

Episode 17: Neuroses and Nostalgia from 2018-03-22T04:00

In this episode, Ken gets over his prejudices about self-improvement and gets into therapy.

In the midst of his glamorous success, he needs to take some time out to deal with Real Life is...

Episode 16: Elton John's Concert Tour! from 2018-03-15T04:00

 Ken's career starts to rev up, as he picks up the remnants of his life after divorcing the Trophy Husband. The Very Posh Store orders hats for Ken's favorite rock Star!  This success puts a str...

Episode 15: Dances with Land Mines from 2018-03-08T05:00

In this episode, Ken goes through a messy divorce from his Trophy Husband, and the Stock Market Crash of 1987 all in one season!  We also get to see Ken bathing in the nude!

Episode 14: Escape from The Emporium! from 2018-03-01T05:00

In this episode, Ken makes his escape from his "real job" in window display to start his business.  In the meantime, he visits Mark in Long Beach, and has an epiphany that pushes him to escape h...

Episode 13: Self-employment means: Loving the boss! from 2018-02-22T05:00

Mark gets Ken his first design client, which spurs Ken to start his own business.  While Ken is starting a business, Mark disappears to Los Angeles.

Also, Susan shows what a good sport sh...

Episode 12: Homicide is NOT a career path! from 2018-02-15T05:00

Ken makes the leap to working in window display at Macy's, where he has a Boss From Hell.  He also meets Loren and Craig, the two display trimmers who teach him more than display-they tutor him ...

Act 2: A new phase of a friendship from 2018-02-08T05:00

This begins a new phase in the friendship between Mark and Ken. Ken had his revenge, and started spending quite a lot more time away from Mark. In Act 1, the relationship looked somewhat like a ...

Episode 10: Banging the bishop or: Bringing new meaning to the phrase "extra man”. from 2018-02-01T05:00

In this episode, we follow Ken as he explores the social whirl of his new adopted city, San Francisco,  We'll also get to meet The Bishop, and follow Ken’s brief career as a Cute Young Thing.  W...

Episode 9: Give Me a Sign! Or: Goddess, just give me a hard shove, please? from 2018-01-25T05:00

In this episode, Ken makes the Big Move from Oklahoma City to San Francisco!  Once there, h gets established in his job, finds an apartment, and gets into the swing of things in his adopted city...

Episode 8: Scarlet Wasn’t the Only One to Say "God as my Witness" from 2018-01-18T05:00

In this episode, in the spring of 1981, life is wonderful in Oklahoma City! Out of the blue, though, Ken gets a letter that will change the course of his life!

Episode 7: Call In When You Miss Work from 2018-01-07T20:21:25

The romance between Ken and Darrel blooms. Also, an attempted suicide by a friend brings them closer together. Plus, we meet Harry, who became one of Ken's mentors in the early days.

I accidentally date a felon, or: keep on your toes, even if you're not dancing. from 2018-01-04T05:00

While hanging around a classy joint, Ken meets, and inadvertently dates a future felon.  Later, Mark up and moves away, surprising Ken.

You are known by the company you keep. from 2017-12-28T05:00

Ken learns a harsh lesson in the world of the grown-up.  Also, he has some humorous grown-up misadventures!

I get into Big Boy Retail! from 2017-12-21T15:01:53

In this episode, Ken gets into Big Boy window display, and meets the other main character in this tale:  Mark.

Word of the day-Lesbiterian. from 2017-12-14T02:25:10

In this episode, we follow Ken from Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers,  into the wonderful, glamorous world of window display. And, we learn a new vocabulary word!

All Grown Up Now from 2017-12-07T05:00

In episode 2, we go with Ken to his 10 year class reunion, as well as hearing about his amateur lawbreaking as an adolescent.

Getting to know me! We embark on a journey. from 2017-11-22T20:07:44

In episode 1, Kenneth will introduce himself, and the story of how this podcast came about.  Then, you will hear episode 1!